How to Groom a Dachshund

Keeping your Dachshund well-groomed is an important part of maintaining her overall health. When you regularly groom your Dachshund not only do you improve your bond with your animal, you have the opportunity to spot problems before they get out of hand.

Basic grooming

A regular grooming routine will usually consist of

Brushing: Brush your dog's coat with a soft-bristled dog brush. If you have a longhaired or wirehaired Dachshund, go over it with a steel comb as well.Be sure to check for any sign of parasites as you work out any tangles with the comb.

Inspecting: Pick up each foot and wiggle each toe, feel the footpads, and then gently examine and rub each ear.

Getting your Dachshund used to having these tender areas touched will make it easier for your vet to treat him if he gets injured.

Bathing: Bath weekly or bi-weekly, depending on how dirty your dog gets. Be sure that you use a shampoo and conditioner designed for dogs. Human shampoo and conditioners have the wrong ph balance is different for dogs. Be sure to clean keep the eyes and ears clean as well.

Clipping: If your Dachshund's nails need clipping, clip them. Ask your vet to show you how to clip your Dachshund's nails. Your puppy will soon realize that it doesn't hurt—as long as you don't cut down too far.

If you clip nails frequently, the quick retracts out of the way. If you do clip the quick, you can use a styptic stick or even a ChapStick to help stop the bleeding.

Teeth: Brush your dog's teeth every couple of days.

Pest control: Apply a pest-control product if necessary. The vet can help you find the best product for your area, but the product you choose should cover ticks, fleas, and worms.

The Dachshunds also tend to have a problem with impacted anal sacs, which are located on either side of the anus, causing a very unpleasant odor. These anal sacs need be drained every six to eight weeks. Your vet or your groomer can drain the anal sacs for you, or you can have them teach you how to do it yourself.

Special grooming needs

Your grooming session will differ depending on your dog's coat:

Smooth Dachshunds

This quintessential dachshund is by far the easiest to maintain. These sleek beauties require little more than occasional brushing, nail clipping and teeth scrubbing.

Here's a trick to adding some serious sheen to your smooth Dachshunds coat. After brushing him, apply a drop or two of baby oil to your palms and them smooth the oil over his coat.

Wirehaired Dachshunds

Wirehairs shed the least of the Dachshunds, but they require extensive grooming. Under their wiry hair they have a soft undercoat dies like skin dies and must be plucked out — stripped — several times a year. You can do this yourself or hire a groomer.

If you don't care whether your wirehaired Dachshund's coat is show quality, you can bypass most of the stripping by giving him an electric clipper shave whenever the undercoat gets out of hand.

Longhaired Dachshunds

Longhairs are beautiful, but they require a major grooming commitment. A daily brushing is required to get rid of all the tangles and mats that will seem to appear out nowhere. Fortunately, most longhairs consider this to be the highlight of their day.

If you're having trouble getting your Dachshund to look ready for the show ring, try asking your breeder or a professional groomer if you can watch them and see how it's done. Another great source of ideas is to hang out behind the scenes at a dog show and watch the pros.